When Mr. Okada had finished his business discussions and was leaving
the office yesterday, he said
Isoganashikute, isoganashikute, komarimasu wa.
(I'm so busy I don't know what to do.)
Mr. Lerner knew that many Japanese businessmen complain about being
busy, but he wondered why Mr. Okada used "wa" at the end of his sentence;
isn't "wa" a feminine ending?
In feminine speech "wa" is used at the end of a sentence to emphasize
the speakers intentions or judgement, as in
Kyoo wa kinoo yori samui wa.
(It's colder today than it was yesterday)
Moo kaeru wa.
(I'm going home now.)
Sonna koto, arimasen wa.
(That's not so.)
Sometimes "wa" is also used by men to emphasize their intentions
or judgement, although the frequency of use by men is much lower. The
two "wa" are thought to be the same in origin; in classical works and in
dialects "wa" is used for emphasis by both men and women. But nowadays
the mens"wa" is not used as often as the womens "wa". And the two are
pronounced differently. Namely, women's "wa" is uasually pronounced
slightly higher in pitch than what precedes it, as in
Kyoo wa kinoo yori samui wa.
On the other hand, men's "wa" is pronounced lower than what precedes it, as in
Kyoo wa kinoo yori samui wa.
Moo kaeru wa.
Sonna koto, arimasen wa.
Another difference is that women's "wa" is often followed by "yo" and "ne" as in
Ktoo wa kinoo yori samui wa yo.
Moo kaeru we ne.
But men's "wa" is seldom followed by "yo" and "ne".
|